Vikings teammates, fans say possible final goodbye to Harrison Smith and C.J. Ham

Fullback C.J. Ham was the first and only Vikings player on the field during the coin toss before a 16-3 season finale victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 4.

“That was a surprise,” Ham said. “Did anybody plan that? I have no idea. I was looking left to right like, ‘Where’s everybody at?’”

There was a plan.

The plan was to make safety Harrison Smith and Ham — who are the team’s two longest-tenured players and are considering retirement — the sole captains at kickoff, beginning a celebration of their careers that combine 24 Vikings seasons.

Smith had other thoughts.

“They were trying to send us both out, and I’m like, ‘Man, let C.J. have it,’ ” Smith said. “He needs more people to recognize how phenomenal he’s been as a player and leader.”

Fans, coaches and teammates — current and past — heaped applause upon Smith and Ham before, during and after a regular-season finale that was given heartfelt meaning despite lacking postseason implications.

Coach Kevin O’Connell said “today was about” Smith, a 14th-year Vikings safety, and Ham, a 10th-year Vikings fullback. Smith, whose 207 regular-season games rank fifth in franchise history, was given the marquee, final introduction out of the pregame tunnel.

The videoboards showed Smith pointing to an applauding crowd. As players jogged to the sideline, the camera fixed on Ham. Then he ran out as the sole Vikings captain at the coin toss.

“They’re tremendous human beings, and ones that this organization should celebrate a lot longer than just today, and I know we will,” O’Connell said. “But today was about those guys.”

Before the game, safety Josh Metellus and cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers reported to the stadium wearing No. 22 jerseys (both Notre Dame and Vikings varieties).

Neither Smith nor Ham are attention-seeking personalities, which right tackle Brian O’Neill noted when asked about Ham’s eyes tearing up on the sideline when he was shown on the videoboards in the second half.

Ham, 32, might walk away having played 141 games for the Vikings — the third most by an undrafted offensive player behind only Mick Tingelhoff and Adam Thielen. Ham, a converted running back from Duluth and Augustana University in Sioux Falls, would finish with 42 career carries, the first and possibly last being touchdowns after he scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter against Green Bay.

“Emotions are high right now,” Ham said. “As we go into the next thing, the offseason, we’ll spend some time as a family and think, be present, and we’ll make some official thing official.”

Smith, who turns 37 on Feb. 2, said he might have boxed himself in by accepting the day’s celebrations.

“I was kind of joking before the game, ‘I feel like I’m at my funeral,’ ” he said. “I don’t really have a choice anymore. Yeah, we’ll see.”

A final, on-field moment was discussed. O’Connell was going to call a timeout to send both Smith and Ham onto the field for a victory formation kneel-down. But O’Connell said he liked how the crowds had given each an ovation when they exited the game, and that he was worried Smith was going to go rogue and play quarterback.

That’s Smith’s tip of the cap to his old Packers nemesis, Aaron Rodgers.

After the game, Smith and Ham hugged in the locker room when many of their teammates had already left.

Smith was in his pads and jersey more than an hour after the game. He was asked whether that was some sign of not wanting the day to end.

“I would gladly take it off,” Smith said. “I was called back onto the field by my family. It’s been a big picture day. That’s not really my style. I know I’ll be happy we took them.”

The Ham and Smith families spent moments on the field afterward, soaking in what might be the last seconds of their loved ones’ careers.

Ham left the media scrum and walked toward the exit.

“Trip!” Ham yelled to his 4-year-old son sitting at dad’s Vikings locker. “Time to go!”